Ski boot



Filed Feb. 24, 1965 March 15, 1966 R. B. LANGE ETAL SKI BOOT 4Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOIB ROBERT B. LAN GE PHILO B. LANGE ATTORNEY FIGSMarch 15, 1966 R. B. LANGE ETAL 3,239,952

SKI BOOT Filed Feb. 24, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTORS ROBERT I3.LANGE PHILO B. LANGE 8% flz/vm ATTORNEY March 15, 1966 Filed Feb. 24,1965 R. B. LANGE ETAL SKI BOOT 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 //vv/vr0/?s ROBERT B.LANGE PHIL B. LANGE SKI BOOT Filed Feb. 24, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

FIG.

INVENTORS ROBERT B. LANG'E' PH/LO B. LANGE United States Patent3,239,952 SKI BOUT Robert B. Lange, 3563 Mount Carmel Road, Dubuque,Iowa, and Philo B. Lange, 33 E. 73rd St., Indianapolis 40, Ind.

Filed Feb. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 441,398 11 Claims. (Cl. 36-25) This is acontinuation-in-part of Serial No. 223,723, filed September 14, 1962,now abandoned.

This invention relates generally to a boot of novel construction, andrelates more particularly to an athletic type boot used While skiing.Further, the invention relates to a method of obtaining excellentindividual fitting of boots manufactured with high productiontechniques.

Of primary consideration in the design and fitting of a ski boot is themaintenance of the closest possible contact between the boot and thefoot and ankle of the wearer consistent with comfort. In addition topurposes of providing warmth and protection to a wearer, a ski boot isan important link in the connection between the leg of a wearer and theski.

While rapid advances have been made in the manufacture of skis and theirboot binding apparatus, advances in boot construction have been limited.Since all equipment between a skier and his skis is each an importantlink in the transfer of body weight to the ground, a primary objectiveof this invention is to provide a boot which will take full advantage ofthe many advances in the ski binder art in contributing an almostunitary link between the leg and the ski.

The instant boot has as one of its principal objectives to substantiallyconnect a wearers foot and ankle with the boot so that the ski, whenproperly secured, will instantly respond to lateral and forwardshiftings of weight and movement of a wearer. In the particularembodiment hereinafter disclosed, there is shown a ski bootconstruction, wherein the foot and ankle are maintained in lateralrigidity, although permitting a forward lean of the lower leg withrespect to the boot.

A still further objective of this invention is to provide a ski boothaving a longitudinally and laterally rigid sole and said sole having alateral width substantially the same as that of the ski to which it isattached. The soles of prior art boots were so constructed that in manyinstances they extended beyond the lateral width of the ski. Duringturns and other maneuvers this resulted in the sole contacting the snow.Since maneuverability is best accomplished by the edge of the ski, it isan important objective of this invention to eliminate much of the shoeplowing that results from boots constructed prior to the advancementsset forth by this invention.

Another important objective of this invention is to provide a boot whichis formed solely of plastic, thus eliminating the troublesome necessityof water proofing, storing with shoe trees, dyeing, polishing, and thelike.

Another important objective of the invention is to provide a ski boot inwhich the sole and the upper of an outer shell are integral and formedfrom a single mold whereby the binding mechanism secures the upper, aswell as the sole, to the ski.

A still further objective of the invention is to provide a boot which isreadily manufactured in all colors and hues, which will materiallystimulate the enthusiasm of the present day popularity in ski costuming.

A still further objective of the invention is to provide a ski bootwhich includes a pivoting ankle gaiter that permits a forward flexing ofthe ankle joint without disturbing the lateral support given to thelower leg.

A most serious problem incurred during the fitting of a ready-made skiboot to the foot of a wearer, is the pronounced individual differencesin the size, shape, and

3,239,952 Patented Mar. 15, 1966 height of the ankle bone from the soleof the foot. Another very important object of the invention is toprovide a boot having a pliable plastic sock-like liner formed with apocket which receives an ankle pack about the lower leg. The ankle packcontains a liquid plastic which solidifies to a high-density foam-rubberconsistency after being subjected to a proper catalyst. During fitting,the catalyst is added and the pack is placed within the pocket and theboot is firmly laced to the foot of a wearer. The plastic assumes themold of a wearers foot, thus insuring a perfect fit without the usuallong and agonizing period of breaking in. Therefore, a still furtherobjective of this invention is to provide a boot which receives aform-fitting ankle pack in which a liquid plastic is received, saidplastic being convertible to a strong sponge, rubber-like materialmolded to the individual contours of a wears foot. In addition, theinvention provides means to quickly and easily replace the pack.

In most skiing maneuvers, good technique demands that the skiers legremain perpendicular to the plane of the ski insofar as a later orside-to-side movement is concerned. Equally important to good techniqueis that the lower leg be permitted to assume a forward lean While thesole of the foot is maintained in substantially full con tact, or inparallel relationship, with the ski. The instant invention provides aboot of rigid, heavy-gauge plastic that prevents lateral sway, butprovides a pivotal ankle gaiter to facilitate forward lean. Theadvantages gained through the use of such rigid materials are negated ifperfect fit is not accomplished. Incorporated in combination with therigid boot and pivoted gaiter of this invention is a form-fittinginterior which makes their use possible.

A further objective of the invention is to provide a ski boot with ashaped, thermoplastic counter which is individually moulded to the shapeof a users bone structure. A still further objective of the invention isto provide a plastic boot with a thermoplastic gaiter which can bedeformed to the exact contours of a users ankle bone structure withoutsubtracting from the strength and other purposes of the gaiter.

Another important objective of the invention is to provide a ski bootwith a longitudinally rigid sole section which eliminates bending andtwisting of the boot due to stresses developed during diflicult skiingmaneuvers.

A further objective of the invention is to provide a boot having apocketed liner to receive a liquid pouch which contains a susbtancewhich sets to the contours of a wearers foot and which can be readilyexchanged when worn or improperly fitted.

Another important objective of the invention is to provide an athleticboot of the type described with a plastic pliable sock-like liner of atype which breathes such as that manufactured by the Du Pont de NemoursCompany under the trademark Corfam.

These and other important objectives and advantages of the inventionwill hereinafter become more fully ap parent from the followingdescription of the drawings, illustrating a presently preferredembodiment thereof, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective of the invention assembled and laced;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective of the outer slipper;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective of an inner slipper;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective of the inner sole;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective of the ankle gaiter;

FIGURE 6 is a partial cross-sectional view along the line 6--6 o-fFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is an exploded perspective view of the liner and its plasticinsert;

FIGURE 8 is a partial cross-section of the toe section along the line8-8 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 9 is a exploded perspective view of an embodiment of theinvention shown in FIGURES 1-8;

FIGURE 10 is a side elevation view of the assembled construction ofFIGURE 9; and

FIGURE 11 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the embodiment ofFIGURES 9 and 10.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals indicate likeelements, the numeral 10 indicates the boot combination of thisinvention. A rigid outer slipper unit 12 molded of heavy-gauge plastic,of substantial rigidity, is comprised generally of an outer sole 14 andan outer upper 16. The unit is an integral one-piece mold and its upperis formed generally to the configuration of a wearers foot. The sole 14is rectangular and is formed with a binding groove 18 at the heel and aplurality of positioning slots 20 at the toe. The groove and slots eachcooperate with binding accessories which are well known to personsfamiliar with skiing equipment. The sole 14 has a lateral width 22 whichapproximates the width of a ski 24 to which it is attached. Alongportions of its length, the foot receiving upper extends laterallybeyond the sole as indicated by the numeral 28. The upper 16 iscomprised of sides 31) and 32, which extend longitudinally between outertoe section 34 and the outer heel section 36. Sides and 32 are highestat their approximate mid-sections where they are apertured at 38 and 40.Note that sole 14 is formed with a longitudinal trough-shaped solerecess 42 extending generally throughout its longitudinal and laterallength, and end portions of which are partially covered by inwardlydirected overhangs 44 and 46.

A semi-rigid plastic counter or inner slipper 48, which more closelyconforms to a wearers foot, is adapted for close reception within theouter slipper 12 and maintains the foot in engagement with the sole ofthe boot. The inner slipper is formed with an inner sole 50, an innerupper 52, an upstanding rigid toe receiving cavity 54, and a heelreceiving cavity 56. The inner upper 52 includes first and second sides58 and 60 which have upwardly extending mid-sections 62 and 64 generallyco-extensive with the mid section of outer sides 30 and 32 when theinner and outer slippers are assembled.

The mid-sections are apertured at 62 and 64 for alignment with openings38 and 41) of the inner slipper when the inner slipper is placed intoslipper 12. The inner slipper is laterally separated at 66 such that thefront and rear sections of sole 60 thereof may respectively be insertedangularly under overhangs 44 and 46 and then snapped into recess 42. Thesole 50 is recessed at 63 and has an outer periphery of the samedimensions as the inner dimensions of recess 42. The sole recess 63 isoverlapped respectively at its front and rear by toe overhang 70 and'heel overhang 74.

A rigid inner sole 74 formed of fiberglass or the like has an invertedU-shaped cross section and is cut or separated along its length at 76such that the toe and heel ends thereof may respectively be angularlyinserted under flanges 70 and 72 and snapped into recess 68. The uppersurface of the inner sole is formed with a shank 78 and slight heel andball depressions 80 and 32.

A plurality of openings 84 are formed along the longitudinal length ofthe depending legs 86 and 87 of the inner sole for purposes hereinafterdescribed. When outer slipper 12 and the inner slipper 52 are assembled,the openings 38 and are respectively aligned with the openings 62 and64. The inner sole is snapped into the recess 68 and holes are drilledthrough the bottoms of soles 14 and and a thermosetting epoxy resin 69is forced under pressure into the chamber 88 formed by the recess 68 andthe inner sole 74. Portions of the resin enter the apertures 84 and seepbetween the side walls of sole 50 and the legs 86 and 87. Afterhardening, the epoxy ibinds together these elements (outer slipper,inner slipper, and sole 74) and provides a filling to which screws orother devices may be inserted. Various binding apparatuses are sometimessecured to a boot in this manner.

The inverted U-shaped molded fiberglass inner sole 74, and its matingupright U-shaped soles 14 and 50 have the same resistance to bending andtwisting as do similar channel-beam constructions. Therefore, the bootis equipped with a comparatively light sole with substantial twist andbend resistant properties.

An ankle gaiter 91) which substantially surrounds a wearers leg fromslightly below his ankle bone to approximately one inch above, ispivotally secured to the previously mentioned mid-section openings 38,4t 62 and 64 by rivet-like pins 92 and 94. The connection itself canbest be seen by referring to FIGURE 6. Holes 96, in outer slipper 12, towhich fasteners 96' are added, and holes 98, on ankle member 90, towhich fasteners 98' are added, are aligned in slipper 12 and holes 98 onankle member are aligned along the front tongue opening, and with laces9?, conveniently secure the boot to the leg and foot of a wearer.

Referring now to FIGURE 7, there is shown the socklike member 100 ofpliable plastic comprised of an inner liner 102 and an outer liner 104which are hermetically sealed along their mating peripheries. The memberis formed with a tongue opening 106 which is adapted to be closed by apadded tongue 108. Along the top of ankle opening 111), liners 102 and104 are separated to form a pocket 112 which extends downwardly toward asole portion 114. The pocket is for positioning a packet 116 which formsinto the shape of a wearers foot. The inner liner 102 (FIGURE 6) extendsupwardly beyond the opening 110 and forms a turn-over closure flap 105,or as an alternative the outer layer 104 may extend beyond the opening,as shown in FIGURE 7.

A packet 116 of sealed polyethylene, Mylar or the like is filled with aliquid polymercaptan base synthetic resin. Black Tuffy, as marketed bythe Perma-Flex Mold Co., of Columbus, Ohio, is suitable for the purposeshereinafter disclosed. Any substance capable of maintaining a mold andwhich quickly solidifies into a dense sponge-like consistency issuitable for these purposes. The resinous ingredients may beconveniently and separately stored within the packet.

After assembly of the rigid elements of the boot, a prospective wearerplaces his foot into the sock-like member 100, and the foot and memberare positioned with the inner slipper 52. The plastic container 116 issqueezed, or the substances therein are otherwise agitated, untilpolymercaptan resins are thoroughly mixed. The packet is then formed toa substantially semi-circular configuration (FIGURE 7) and slipped intothe pocket 112. Flap is turned over to close opening 10 and the laces 99are secured to the fasteners 96 and 98 in the conventional manner. Thefoot remains in this position for approximately twenty minutes until theresins have had the opportunity to cast into the configuration of theankle bone and the surrounding area. The packet can easily be replacedwith another when desired. Although the mold cooperates with the boot inuse, it is not a permanent part thereof. There has been described a skiboot which, through the use of an outer slipper, a counter, and an anklegaiter, each having substantial rigidity, provides lateral stability ofa type heretofore not obtained in footwear of this type. The termrigidity as applied to the upper 12, the counter-upper 52, and thegaiter 90 does not imply absolute rigidity, but only that rigidity whichwould remain firm under most skiing stresses, but yielding somewhat whensubjected to other than normal stresses. For instance, a firm hand gripcan bend these members.

In order to take full advantage of this stability the upper gaiter ishinged to permit the desirable forward lean and there has also beenprovided a cooperating perfect fit assembly which takes full advantageof the two first mentioned advancements. In addition, the boot issusceptible of manufacture of all hues and colors which are easilymaintained through the life of the boot. Also, there has been discloseda boot having a twist resistant sole of the exact width of the ski towhich it is applied. Further, there has been disclosed a boot in whichthe upper itself is secured to the ski via conventional bindingmechanism.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 9-11, the outer slipper 200 is formedwith an open bottom 202. The bottom is closed by adhesively affixing arubber gripping sole 204.

The sole 204 and the elongated sole depression 206 form a receptacle toreceive a stiffening member 208. The member 208 is provided with a liftportion 210 disposed beneath a wearers heel. The member 208 is of anylightweight, rigid material such as a 5-score plywood. The member isembedded in a layer of epoxy resin. The resin and member jointly form asole section 212 fully resistant to longitudinal bending or twistingabout sole length. By forming the counter independently of the sole, thesplit 66 in the counter of FIGURES 1-9 is unnecessary. The counter 214of this embodiment is made of a normally rigid thermoplastic materialclosely following the contours of a wearers foot. The counter 214 isshaped against the forming last and closely conforms to the shapethereof.

For one reason or another, many people develop painful calciumformations at the end of protruding foot and ankle bones commonlyreferred to as bone spurs. Bone spurs have a high incidence among peoplewho ski frequently. In conventional boots it is very diflicult torelieve the pain caused by bone spurs except by placing further paddingbetween the boot and the spur. It is relative movement between the bonespur and the boot which causes pain. With the thermoplastic counter, adepression to receive the spur is easily made by heating the counter andconforming it to the shape of the bone.

A layer of sponge rubber 216 is placed over the sole section 212 and thecounter is placed within the outer slipper. A second sole layer ofsponge rubber 218 is placed within the counter. The layers of spongerubber protect the sole portion of the counter. The counter and thesponge layers may be glued to the principal sole section if desired.

The remainder of the boot is substantially the same as that disclosed inthe FIGURES 1-9 embodiment, except for the gaiter 220. The gaiter 220 isformed of a normally rigid thermoplastic. A user with the properapparatus can then form a depression such as 222 in accordance with hisindividual ankle bone structure. The gaiter can thus closely receive theankle bone and substantially eliminate any relative movementtherebetween.

In a general manner, while there has been disclosed in the abovedescription, what is deemed to be the most practical and efiicientembodiment of the invention, it should be well understood that theinvention is not limited to such an embodiment as there might be changesmade in the arrangement, disposition, and form of the parts withoutdeparting from the principle of the present invention as comprehendedWithin the scope of the accompanying claims.

We claim:

1. An athletic boot comprising an outer slipper of substantial rigiditycomprised of an elongated sole section and an upper, said sole sectionhaving an elongated recess throughout the length thereof, an innerslipper having a second elongated sole section receivable in said recessand a toe forming section, a heel forming section, and an inner upperpartially coextensive with said first mentioned upper, a gaiter, meanspivotally mounting said gaiter between said inner slipper and outerslipper, a liner having a foot section and a leg section receivable insaid inner slipper, and said leg section having a pocket and a plasticinsert receivable within said pocket.

2. An athletic boot comprising an outer slipper of substantial rigiditycomprised of an elongated sole section and an upper, said sole sectionhaving a recess throughout the length thereof, an inner slipper having asecond sole section receivable in said recess and a toe forming section,a heel forming section, and an inner slipper upper substantiallycoexistensive with said first mentioned upper, a gaiter, means mountingsaid gaiter tosaid first mentioned upper for pivotal movement about anaxis transverse to the longitudinal axis of said boot, a liner having afoot section and a leg section, and said leg section having a pocketformed therein, and a plastic insert removably received within saidpocket.

3. In a plastic ski boot having a rigid foot-receiving slipperconforming closely to the contours of the lower portion of the foot, aninsulating lining of pliable material having a foot portion conformingclosely to the inner contours of said slipper, and an upwardly extendingleg portion, a gaiter of rigid plastic substantially surrounding saidleg portion and pivotally connected to said slipper, said leg portionhaving a pocket generally coextensive with said gaiter, and a moldingmaterial in a said pocket of a type which can closely assume theirregular contours of the ankle portion of a wearer of said boot.

4. In combination with a ski having a lateral width at its bootreceiving portion, a plastic ski boot including a rigid foot-receivingslipper conforming closely to the contours of the lower portion of thefoot and a sole having a width substantially the same as said skilateral width, an insulating lining of pliable material having a footportion conforming closely to the inner contours of said foot receivingslipper, and an upwardly extending leg portion, a U-shaped gaiter ofrigid plastic substantially surrounding said leg portion and pivotallyconnected to said slipper about an axis transverse to the longitudinalaxis of said ski, said leg portion having a pocket generally coextensivewith said gaiter, and a molding material in said pocket of a type whichclosely assumes the irregular contours of the ankle portion of a wearerof said boot.

5. In a plastic ski boot having a rigid foot-receiving slipperconforming closely to the contours of the lower portion of the foot, arigid sole forming the bottom of said slipper, an insulating lining ofpliable material having a foot portion conforming closely to the innercontours of said slipper, and an upwardly extending leg portion, agaiter of rigid plastic substantially surrounding said leg portion andpivotally connected to said slipper, said leg portion having a pocketgenerally coextensive with said gaiter, and a liquid material forinsertion into said pocket which molds itself into the form of theirregular chamber defined between the gaiter and a leg of a wearer.

6. An athletic boot comprising an outer slipper having an elongated solesection and an upper, said sole section having a recess throughout thelength thereof, a two-piece inner slipper receivable in said recess andhaving a heel section and a toe section, a two-piece reinforcing memberextending between said. toe and heel sections, said inner slipperincluding an upper coextensive in part with said first-mentioned upper,a gaiter, means mounting said gaiter to said counter between saidcoextensive portions for pivotal movement about an axis transverse tothe longitudinal axis of said boot, a sock liner having a foot sectionand a leg section, said leg section having an opening to a pocketsubstantially coextensive with the area encompassed by said gaiter, anda packet of molding material removably secured in said pocket.

7. A plastic athletic boot comprising an elongated foot receivingportion of substantial rigidity, an elongated sole integral with saidfoot portion having substantially straight parallel side walls defininga sole width, means between said side walls preventing a longitudinaltwisting and lateral bending of said sole, said foot receiving portionhaving a lateral width greater then the lateral width of said sole atthe line of juncture between said sole and said portion along the lengthof the athletic boot.

8. The athletic boot described in claim 7 wherein an ankle gaiter ispivotally mounted to said portion and a 7 i 8 foot liner is receivedwithin said portion and said gaiter. References Cited by the Examiner 9.The athletic boot described in claim 8 wherein a UNITED STATES PATENTSmolding material is received within said boot and securing means forpositioning said molding material forms a 3O5O874 8/1962 sflombra partof Said linen 5 3,067,531 12/1962 Scott et al. 36112 10. The combinationrecited in claim 7 wherein said FOREIGN PATENTS means is a laminatedsheet embedded in a resinous ma- 1,083,787 6/1954 France tenal. 820,70611/1951 Germany. 11. The boot recited in claim 7 wherein a thermo-917,173 8/1954 Germany plastic gaiter is pivotally mounted to said footreceiving 10 portion. FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

1. AN ATHLETIC BOOT COMPRISING AN OUTER SLIPPER OF SUBSTANTIAL RIGIDITYCOMPRISED OF AN ELONGATED SOLE SECTION AND AN UPPER, SAID SOLE SECTIONHAVING AN ELONGATED RECESS THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH THEREOF, AN INNERSLIPPER HAVING A SECOND ELONGATED SOLE SECTION RECEIVABLE IN SAID RECESSAND A TOE FORMIN SECTION, A HEEL FORMING SECTION, AND AN INNER UPPERPARTIALLY COEXTENSIVE WITH SAID FIRST